When TPTB first began toying with the notion of bringing Greenlee back
to Pine Valley - Rebecca Budig or not -- was it always their intention
to ruin her completely? I recall hearing something about a comment
Rebecca Budig made about her being uncomfortable with the idea of a
Greenlee return, because she was afraid they might ruin her, the way
they've done with other returning characters. (Maria and Julia come
to mind, right off the top of my head.) If I'm remembering correctly,
and that IS what Ms. Budig said, then I'd say she was right to be
concerned.

Yes, Greens has always been a selfish, insecure brat -- no one can
deny that, but the idea that she would bring harm (physical or
emotional) to a child simply does not compute. While she will
gleefully rip an adult to shreds in her typical "Do unto others BEFORE
they have a chance to do unto you" fashion, I could never see Greenlee
purposely hurting a child. Now, for those of you who are positively
loathing Greenlee Smythe Du Pres Lavery right now? Prepare yourself
to go way, WAY beyond loathing in the very near future.

Allow me to preface this with a small disclaimer: I do not believe
for one moment that Greenlee purposely crashes her car in order to do
herself or Spike in, but the fact remains that she intended to steal
Prince Spikemaster from his family, in order to assuage some of the
pain and emptiness she feels at not having been blessed to be his
Mommy - thereby taking him from the only family he has ever known -
thereby causing Prince Spikemaster emotional agony. Yes, the
Spikemaster may only be a lad of one tender year, but he knows who his
Mommy and Daddies are, and he WOULD miss them terribly, had she
managed to abscond with him to parts unknown.

Old Greens did some despicable things in the past, especially when she
first came to town, but this goes beyond despicable. This goes beyond
cruel. Leaving Ryass out of the equation entirely, Kendall and Greens
were actually making progress toward restoring their friendship and
trust. Left to their own devices -- without interference - I think
they would have made it there and both women would be the stronger for
it. For Greenlee to even entertain the thought of stealing Spike from
Kendall - after all the progress they've made -- it's downright
reprehensible. In my opinion, it's unforgivable. AS unforgivable as
Babe keeping Miranda from her BFF Bianca - which was something even
Greenlee condemned.

I don't understand why TPTB brought Greenlee back for the sole purpose
of having everyone hate her. And yes, from everything I've seen and
heard around the net and in person, more people loathe her than like
her. Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?! There were so many other ways to
bring Greenlee back, so why go this route? Greens was on the right
track when she left PV. She'd seen Ryass for who and what he truly
was and she left skid marks on his arse (rightfully so) as she sped
out of town, so why the turnaround? Why bring her back as the
simpering sod, so desperate and bedazzled by Laveryitis (still?!) that
she couldn't see straight, much less remember WHY she left town in the
first place?!

I know the old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder, but
YEESH! Greens was never stupid (until she fell for Ryass) but she
tossed her rose-colored glasses, wised up and left his sorry arse in
the dust. Now she's whining and pining over him... AGAIN? What
happened to her self-respect? What happened to her grit and
intelligence? What happened to her memory? LEO was the love of her
life, not Ryass. L-E-O. The one she didn't have to pretend with, the
one she didn't have to transform into a Stepford wife for. Leo, who
accepted her just the way she was and loved her all the more for it.

Reinfecting Greens with Laveryitis was a huge mistake. Huge. They
could have brought her back to town and had her all but ignore Ryass -
there still would have been the "angst" and drama they were looking
for, because, my lovelies, we all know that there is nothing more
enticing to a Lavery than something (or someone) they cannot have.
Annie still would have felt insecure about Ryass' feelings for her
because it would have been all too obvious that he couldn't STAND for
Greenlee to ignore him.

But I digress...

Now, I get the social consciousness angle behind the storyline, I
really do, but why do they have to pick on the Spikeman? Hasn't that
poor kid been through enough? He's only a year old and he's already
seen more pain and suffering than most adults see in a lifetime!
Plus... He's SPIKE! Spike rocks! (Just ask Zach! He even has a
T-Shirt that says so!!) I think we're all a little sick of poor Spike
being jeopardized, aren't we? Now they're putting the Zendall whelp
in harm's way as well? Mark my words, friends, I predict that the
sturm and drang will be epic in proportions if TPTB decide to kill the
Zendall baby - and I will be leading the charge!

So, instead of Spike, why don't they pick on someone else? Why
couldn't it have been Greenlee who suffers the loss of her hearing as
a result of the accident? That is still a social consciousness issue,
plus it smacks of karma; or Divine retribution. Swift "punishment"
for the crime of child stealing. It's not often that major characters
actually pay for the crimes they've committed and this would be
Greenlee's penance. It could, instead of completely demonizing her,
actually give her a shot at true redemption. Watching her struggle
with something else, besides her Laveryitis, would be riveting drama.
Seeing Greens overcome a sudden handicap would also give her a way to
relate better to what Lily (her sister) lives with every day, and it
would give them a great way to bond - which is something they
desperately need. Move Greens out of the Lavery orbit and into the
bosom of her Montgomery clan.

Speaking of Lily, sisters and bonding; making Ava suddenly deaf would
accomplish the same thing I was talking about with Greens. It would
humanize Ava more, and put her on somewhat equal footing with Lily for
a change - not identical, but similar. Having a disability of her
own, would help Ava to understand Lily on a whole other level. It
would also (hopefully) move her out of that OTHER Lavery's orbit and
back into the Montgomery home. I can totally buy Lily helping Ava to
learn sign language and lip reading; and it would draw them even
closer as sisters. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not wishing accidents
and disabilities or pain and suffering on anyone here... (Well, maybe
Ryass and Jonathug, but I'm TERRIBLE that way!) ... but, since they
are determined to go with a suddenly deaf storyline, I'm just REALLY
wishing they'd leave the children out of it! Anyone else?

Onto some GH musings...

Why, why, WHY haven't TPTB made Sonny's lawyer, Diane, a regular yet?
Why didn't they do it the moment she first appeared in Port Chuckles?
She is one of the freshest, most fabulous characters EVER to appear on
GH! I haven't met a single person - online or in RL who doesn't
absolutely LOVE her! She steals every scene she is in...

Wait...

Maybe that's the problem? Maybe they are afraid she will steal
Sonny's thunder? Or Jason's? If that's the case, let's all do our
best to assure them that THAT is not what would happen. She elevates
those scenes - makes both Sonny and Jason come to life - even when
Jason is just staring at her. Seriously. She even makes it tolerable
to watch Ric when she's in scenes with him - I don't even CRINGE when
she is onscreen with him and THAT is saying a lot! Get that woman on
contract before someone else steals her away! And for the love of
peanut butter, see to it that she does NOT fall under the spell of the
magic dimples!

Also, I know there is an upcoming scene where Diane (and some
uniformed cops) arrive at JASON'S penthouse (hear that, Sam? JASON'S,
not YOURS) just in time to keep Sam and Carly from killing each other
and, personally speaking? I can't wait to see it. I would love to
see her give Sam the royal Diane smackdown. If only Sonny, Jason or
even Amelia had TOLD her about Sam's part in the Jakenapping!!! Even
if she didn't drop a dime on her, it would be fun to see Diane get a
few digs in here and there before the truth eventually comes to
light.

I'd also like to see someone tell Spinelli about Sam's involvement in
the Jakenapping. As much as it would devastate him to know the truth
about her, it would at least lift the Goddess-vision he sees her with
from his eyes and he could finally, FINALLY tell her off with as much
disdain and heartlessness as she has shown him time and time again.

As much as I love the (long overdue) bonding scenes between Alexis and
Sam, I would have loved for Alexis to call Sam on her hypocrisy. I
kept waiting for it, while Sam was wanking on about how JASON ruined
what they had together with his continued lies and betrayal, I was
pleading with Alexis to say something - anything - about how Sam
started that particular ball rolling with her revenge "Sic" sex.
(ICKY!!!) Not in a judgmental way, of course, but as a point of
reference and a way of keeping it real with her. To her credit, Sam
DID take some responsibility for SOME of her lies - so that's
progress. Too bad she didn't go all the way and admit to Alexis her
part in the Jakenapping. Ah well... baby steps, right?

And oh YAAAAAAAAAAAY! Look! It's Anna-freakin-Devane!! I was
positively giddy to see her descending through the skylight in
Patrick's apartment! Dare we hope to see her in a few (more serious)
scenes as the kick-ass super spy she is? I'd love to see her give
Jerry a sound thrashing for what he did to Robin (especially) and the
others (generally) at the Metro-Court. then I'd LOVE to see Robert
come in and have a whack at him, too. Bliss! Okay, I'll be honest,
I'd just like to see Supah!Spy-Robert, period!

That's all I have for now, my lovelies... The bar is open and the
drinks are on me!CC